County asks for extension agent's post to be filled immediately

By DAN KEGLEY/Staff

Smyth County supervisors adopted a resolution Thursday in support of Virginia Cooperative Extension officials’ filling the extension agent position vacated Jan. 1 by the retirement of Walter Robinson.
Robinson held the job for 28 years.
The resolution asks that the position be filled immediately, citing agriculture as “the largest industry in Smyth County” and because “other farm agencies have relocated to neighboring counties….”
The resolution said the supervisors “feel that any extended process in filling the vacant Extension Agent position in Smyth County would take away the benefits that have developed over the years….” Examples given of the benefits were the education and information the extension office provides that “are vital for the continued success in agriculture,” the “strong programming network, both within Southwest Virginia and throughout Southwest Virginia” the Smyth office developed.
The supervisors acknowledge the state’s fiscal condition in the resolution as a reason for supporting the filling of the position. “Smyth County feels the budget restrictions may not allow the quickest response to our needs,” the document said.
In addition to immediately filling the position, the supervisors’ resolution requests VCE’s “continued financial support with this position.”
The resolution’s adoption follows up the supervisors’ intent at their first meeting this month not to leave the decision about filling the position entirely up to VCE officials.
Agriculture is well represented on the board of supervisors, with three of its members – Chairman Charlie Clark, Wade Blevins and Todd Dishner – operating farms in the Rich Valley, Chilhowie and Park districts, respectively.
Dishner initiated the board’s support of the position’s filling earlier this month, saying he “would like a resolution sent to the powers that be in support of filling the position instead of leaving it vacated. If we let it go, it might go unfilled.”
Clark agreed. “I think Mr. Dishner is right on. I know Tazewell County has gone three years without. There’s no better way to get good information from chemicals to land use.”

dkegley@wythenews.com